Educating the Public on a Global Scale
Welcome to The World of Public Health
Hi there, and welcome to The World of Public Health. I’m Tonja Rice, a Certified Health Education Specialist who is passionate about serving and educating others.
How it all began…
My experience in the public health field has been quite a journey to say the least. During my final year in undergrad at UMBC, two of my professors advised me to look into public health. I had no idea what public health was, but after doing some research, I realized it was a step in the right direction.
I began looking into graduate programs. However, I wanted to become a Peace Corps Volunteer. Becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer isn’t a process that happens overnight, and I wanted to spend one month abroad to make sure I really wanted to do a two-year Peace Corps stint. I literally was going to quit my full-time job so that I could spend a month in Ghana, but my Manager said I wouldn’t need to.
I was nervous, excited, and in awe as the plane landed in Accra. Being there was an eye opening experience. I was grateful for the opportunity to serve as an English/Health Teacher; and for the very first time, I felt free.
Three months after I returned home from Ghana, it was time for me to pack my bags and move to Tanzania. Living in a village, finding out how I could be of service to those around me, learning about other people, teaching, just being there continually changed my perspective and outlook on life.
Although I had to return home after 10 months, my time in Tanzania cemented that I wanted to work with women and children, that I wanted to be a Health Educator, and that I’m not only to serve in my own backyard in America, but across the globe. It cemented my purpose.
Since then, my goal has been to provide health education services to as many people as possible. In my career as a Health Educator, I have provided education to over 500 people, developed and co-developed health programs and workshops domestically and in Tanzania, spearheaded community health events, and even worked as an HIV Testing Counselor.
I am now in a new phase of my career, and would like to use this blog as an outlet to educate others about various public health topics. I hope you will take this journey with me.
Also, check out my blog at https://worldofpublichealth.com/blog-feed/.
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